High Peaks Resort

A century ago, the land on which High Peaks Resort sits was the site of the Homestead Inn (and before that, the resort site was farmland). Homestead Inn was one of Lake Placid's first lodging options, and was the area's very first bed and breakfast. Homestead was torn down in 1979, so that Lake Placid Hilton could be built on the prime real estate in time for the 1980 Olympics. And in 2008, Lake Placid Hilton became High Peaks Resort. Today, the modern resort invites with warm lodge-like interiors and amenities that appeal across traveler types. Families make use of resort's pet-friendly policy and lakefront area, where kayaks are free to use in the warmer months and Norwegian kick sleds are available when the lake freezes over in the winter. Couples tend to commend the rooms' spa-like stone showers and private balconies -- many of which have panoramic lake and mountain views. And business travelers and wedding groups are drawn to the resort for its nice selection of meeting and event spaces. Since High Peaks' 2008 opening, it has converted an adjacent motel into a sister property, called Lake House, and has built an Adirondack-style room building right on the Mirror Lake shoreline, called Waterfront Collection. The three separate lodging areas -- the original building, Lake House, and Waterfront Collection -- share resort amenities, such as the four pools, lakefront activities, and sophisticated lobby. With its wood-burning fireplace and leather sofas, the lobby lures guests to curl up with a book or one of the free morning newspapers, play a game of chess, and -- in the winter, when the lobby bar is open -- enjoy a hot toddy.

High Peaks Resort occupies prime real estate along the shores of Mirror Lake and abutting popular Main Street. Guest rooms take advantage of peaceful views over Mirror Lake with the Adirondack Mountains in the background, and the center of town is just a few steps away. Coffeehouses, ice cream shops, restaurants, sports bars, and shops are all within walking distance, as is the path around 2.7-mile path around Mirror Lake.Lake Placid is a small town central to nearby attractions, and most destinations are within short driving distance from each other. Adirondack Park is the largest in the lower 48 states and has 10,000 lakes and 46 peaks (though nearly half of the peaks lack marked trails).- 11-minute walk to Olympic Center, site of the 1980 Olympics

• 15-minute walk to Mirror Lake beach
• Five-minute drive to Lake Placid Golf Club
• Eight-minute drive to Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex
• Eight-minute drive to Lake Placid Airport
• 15-minute drive to High Falls Gorge
• 22-minute drive to Whiteface Mountain Ski Center
• 22-minute drive to Mt. Van Hoevenberg
• 30-minute drive to Adirondack Regional Airport

There are a total of 175 rooms within the High Peaks Resort complex: 103 rooms at the main resort, 28 Waterfront Collection rooms, and 44 rooms at the separate Lake House sibling property.At the main building, there are two room types -- Signature and Superior View -- both around 365 square feet. Signature rooms occupy lower floors and overlook the courtyard and outdoor pool, while aptly-named Superior View rooms occupy upper floors and feature panoramic views of Mirror Lake and the Adirondack Mountains. (Note that some views are a bit marred by the visible rooftops of lower resort buildings.) There are also two 728-square-foot suites.High Peaks Resort rooms are updated and comfortable, and feature the modern amenities you'd expect at a resort of this rating: air-conditioning, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, Cuisinart coffeemakers, iHome alarm clocks, and free Wi-Fi. All rooms have balconies and duvet-clad beds with Serta mattresses. Rooms are furnished with writing desks and tawny leathery seating and are decorated in autumn colors with wood and granite finishes. Standard rooms have walk-in rainfall showers tiled with natural stone, and all bathrooms have resort-branded toiletries. Suites have jetted tubs, as well as fireplaces and microwaves -- but no spa-like showers.The 360-square-foot, Adirondack-style Waterfront Collection rooms are right on the Mirror Lake shoreline. Most of the rooms have lake views, and King and Queen rooms have direct lakefront access. Two of the 28 rooms are 450-square-foot lake-facing Junior Suites, and one is a 750-square-foot One Bedroom Suite with a fireplace. The 44 Lake House rooms range from 312 to 365 square feet; most have two queen beds, though there are single king and queen options. 

High Peaks Resort's amenities are geared in equal parts to families, couples, business travelers, and large groups. The lakefront area features lawn games in the summer and a dock where kayaks, canoes, row boats, stand-up paddle boards, and paddle boats are available for free use in the summer, and Norwegian kick sleds are available in the winter. Four total pools include two outdoor pools, one in the courtyard and one on Mirror Lake. The main indoor pool is located on the fourth floor of the main resort (the other is at Lake House). The asymmetrical-shaped pool has an attached whirlpool, and there are a few green-and-white-striped loungers on the deck. Towels are provided. The Aveda Concept Spa and Salon is the resort's well-reviewed beauty center, and a modern fitness center overlooks the pool courtyard, and comes with free bottled water and towels.Flexible, audio-visual-equipped meeting and event space totals 10,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 300 people. Catering can be arranged. There is no business center, however, and the one computer for guest use is only available after hours (it is for the concierge's use during the day).Dancing Bears, High Peaks' casual restaurant, offers a full breakfast menu in the morning, as well as fresh pastries and coffee. Lunch and dinner offers typical pub fare, like T-bone steaks, seared pork loin, chicken wings, and oysters. Drinks include regional beers and wines, as well as cocktails, and there is a seasonal outdoor patio with a fire pit and stand-up heaters. The lobby bar, The Den, is open during winter months for drinks by the wood-burning fireplace. For guests with pets, the hotel provides keepsake bandanas for dogs, and equips rooms with dog bowls, place mats, dog beds, treats, and maps of dog-walking routes. High Peaks' pet program costs a daily fee -- a portion of which is donated to The Joshua Fund, a local animal rescue.Wi-Fi is free throughout property.